What to Expect

Please Note: As of February 22, 2019, I will be taking a leave from practice, and as such I am not currently accepting new patients.

Your initial consultation will begin with some administrative details, including reviewing and signing consent forms on site. Treatment cannot begin until the consent forms have been signed. All materials are available here for your review.

The initial visit focuses on assessment, and may include screening physical exam and/or review of lab work. If you do not have copies of lab tests done in the past 6 months, we will fill out a form to request them from your MD. Additional or up-to-date diagnostic tests may be recommended, and Introductory Treatment Guidelines are presented.

To complete your visit we will schedule a follow-up, dispense any items as necessary and take care of billing. Payment is due at the end of your visit, and you will be provided with a detailed and itemized invoice should you require it for insurance purposes.

Your Initial Consult Includes:

Warm welcome, introduction to naturopathic medicine & my approach

Review of intake forms, medical & lifestyle history and any available labwork

Request sent for copies of lab work, or labs recommended as needed

In-depth review of your health concerns and goals

Initial review of diet

Review of any medications and supplements you are currently taking

Appropriate physical exams (as needed/as time allows – this may be deferred to a future visit)

My Goals for the Initial Consult Include:

Consider what obstacles may be interfering with your goals or your optimal health

Explore how your symptoms may relate to each other and their underlying cause

Begin to create a partnership with you in achieving the health you deserve & desire

Wherever possible, provide a naturopathic diagnosis – or at least the short list of most likely diagnoses

Send you out the door with an actionable plan to get started with

Please Note: As of October 1, 2018, my second consultation will go from a 60 minute visit to a 75 minute visit. I simply find that we often need this amount of time to cover everything. Subsequent visits are typically well-managed in an hour, but there will be an option for an extended 75-minute follow-up for those who desire a bit of extra time for questions or discussion.

Your Second Consult:

A second visit will be scheduled within 4-6 weeks of your initial consultation. Between these two visits, you will implement the initial guidelines and track your response to them. Meanwhile, I will be formulating a detailed plan for you that typically spans several visits. Formulating this plan includes reviewing any labs, considering the diagnosis, and allowing for your unique needs, obstacles and goals. At your second visit, we’ll review your initial progress to see if we’re on the right track. This helps to confirm a diagnosis, or indicate that further assessment may be warranted. By the end of the second visit, I will finalize your customized treatment plan with any additional pertinent dietary, lifestyle or other therapeutic recommendations. I will review the plan with you and answer any questions you may have.

These first two visits are critical to uncovering the right assessment and getting started with the most appropriate and specific treatment guidelines. This is the starting point. Subsequent follow-up visits will monitor your progress and adherence, refine your treatment plan, or provide education or demonstration of techniques. Revisions and suggestions are made as necessary. Each visit builds on the previous one along your course of treatment. As issues are resolved, the focus of our visits shifts towards maintenance and prevention.

Each patient is unique, and so is their care. But typically, to achieve your health goals you can expect to have 3-4 visits with me over a 4-6 month period initially. Some individuals may require a longer timeline – it depends on your condition, if there are additional complicating factors, and your adherence to treatment guidelines. While I can’t guarantee results, most of my patients do see significant improvements in their health within the first few visits. After that, I recommend quarterly or biannual visits to maintain your health and work towards preventative wellness. While there is no obligation inferred, I do ask patients to commit to at least the first 3-4 visits to have sufficient time and effort to move the needle.

I offer a brief consultation option (up to 30 minutes) over the phone for those wishing to check-in and briefly review current health concerns & treatment plan progress. This option is also available to those requiring an acute consult.

For a very brief query or check-in (limited to 1 topic or review of labs), I also offer a Mini Phone Consult (less than 15 mins).

These options are reserved for patients I’ve seen within the previous 4 months – otherwise we will need a standard follow-up to allow sufficient time to review your care and address concerns. Keep in mind that for all phone consults, 5-10 mins are reserved for completing and emailing your plan, scheduling and invoicing.

10 Things to Know About Your Care

On the journey towards optimal health, each of us has a responsibility. Yours is to track & report symptoms thoroughly and accurately. Mine is to interpret this information and provide appropriate treatment options and support to you. Ultimately, I want you to achieve a level of wellness where you only need occasional maintenance and prevention appointments with me. In order to get there, I will do my best to provide education & guidance on proactive health measures you can take – starting with diet & lifestyle. But only you can put the plan into action.

This is a service-based business. My goal is to provide an exceptional standard of care, and a positive experience. I rely on you to be my most enthusiastic supporters, and that means that I want you to be satisfied with your experience. I welcome your input and feedback on any areas you feel I could improve upon.

The best compliment you can give me is to refer a friend, colleague or family member. I strive to provide excellence in naturopathic care and will do everything in my power to be worthy of that compliment.

Think of me as you would your medical doctor. In order to provide you with the best in naturopathic care, I will want to see ALL relevant blood and laboratory diagnostic testing that you have done. Please list me as a physician to receive copies of all of your labwork. I may interpret some lab results different than your MD – but I will always review findings with you – even if they are normal.

I recognize that in Canada we are used to a public health care system – so “paying out of pocket” takes getting used to. Keep in mind that “public health care” does not mean free (that’s what our taxes go toward)! I aim to charge a fair fee for my services, based on my Associations’ guidelines. Note that Naturopathic Medicine is covered by most extended benefits policies (check too with your parent, spouse or partner’s plan). I also believe you’ll appreciate the amount of time and attention I give to my patients – and see it as an investment in your greatest asset – your health.

I’ve always stocked a professional line of supplements at the clinic for your convenience. I offer them at competitive rates and receive no incentives from the companies I carry. You are under no obligation to purchase these items from me. I also have an online dispensary, enabling you to shop online and receive deliveries to your door!

If you have follow-up questions regarding your treatment plan or are just confused about what I recommended, you can reach me by email. I generally respond within 3 business days, so if you have not heard back within that time, feel free to check in to ensure I have received your message. These emails are reserved for current concerns and treatment. If a new concern arises between visits, please make note of it and either bring it to my attention just prior to your next visit, or reschedule your upcoming visit for an earlier time/day. For patients who require a brief consult or find it inconvenient to make it here in person (after an initial consultation), I do offer consultations by phone. Feel free to inquire about this service.

I will always work respectfully with other health care providers. I will never tell you to stop taking a prescribed medication or therapy, but may offer alternate or additional options for you to consider. Often we can provide supportive measures which very much work in harmony with your existing medical care. And safety is always our number one concern – NDs are trained in pharmacology and the interactions between pharmaceuticals and supplements or herbs.

NDs work incredibly hard to become licensed practitioners. They study pre-medical sciences at university – just like their MD counterparts. They go through intensive full time study in all of the medical and clinical sciences, as well as the naturopathic therapies. They participate in a 12-month internship, treating patients while supervised by licensed ND’s. And they sit two sets of rigorous standardized board examinations, plus additional licensing exams in their jurisdiction. They are the only practitioners to be trained in both pharmacology and natural medicines – making them experts on the safe and efficacious use of supplements and herbs, even in conjunction with pharmaceutical drugs. ND’s provide comprehensive assessment and diagnosis to their patients, and make referrals whenever appropriate.

I'm a BEACON for DIGESTIVE HEALTH.

You’re still here. You must want to FEEL BETTER. Perhaps I've begun to illuminate the path for you? Let’s work together: